Bee Health and Productivity in <i>Apis mellifera,</i> a Consequence of Multiple Factors
Managed honeybees play an important role as pollinators. The health and nutritional condition of honeybee colonies (<i>Apis mellifera</i> L.) depends for an important part on management practices, and it is influenced by multiple factors. This study aims to identify the stressors that le...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-05-01
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| Series: | Veterinary Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/8/5/76 |
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| author | Verónica Rachel Olate-Olave Mayda Verde Leslie Vallejos Leonel Perez Raymonda Maria Carla Cortese Marnix Doorn |
| author_facet | Verónica Rachel Olate-Olave Mayda Verde Leslie Vallejos Leonel Perez Raymonda Maria Carla Cortese Marnix Doorn |
| author_sort | Verónica Rachel Olate-Olave |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Managed honeybees play an important role as pollinators. The health and nutritional condition of honeybee colonies (<i>Apis mellifera</i> L.) depends for an important part on management practices, and it is influenced by multiple factors. This study aims to identify the stressors that lead to the loss of honeybee health and its consequences on the colony’s productivity. Different aspects related to management practices, productivity, clinical observations related to diseases, presence of sanitary gaps in the apiaries, colony strength, weather and infestation rates by <i>Varroa</i> sp. mites were measured. The information was collected during two monitoring in 53 apiaries in the Province of Santa Fe, Argentina. The results show correlations among many of the management practices, health condition and yield. The most important factors affecting the productivity of the studied honeybee colonies were nuclei preparation, the number of combs in the brood chamber, change of bee queen, disinfection of beekeeping material, among other less significant ones. Although honey production is important in the region, the colony strength was deficient and inadequate during both monitoring. Due to its dependence on management by the beekeeper, it is suggested that a holistic approach could improve bee health, increasing the productivity of honeybees. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T11:42:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-97e9d40fd2cb43f0b17719d78495a89e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2306-7381 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T11:42:32Z |
| publishDate | 2021-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Veterinary Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-97e9d40fd2cb43f0b17719d78495a89e2023-11-21T18:19:54ZengMDPI AGVeterinary Sciences2306-73812021-05-01857610.3390/vetsci8050076Bee Health and Productivity in <i>Apis mellifera,</i> a Consequence of Multiple FactorsVerónica Rachel Olate-Olave0Mayda Verde1Leslie Vallejos2Leonel Perez Raymonda3Maria Carla Cortese4Marnix Doorn5Center for Systems Biotechnology, Fraunhofer Chile Research, Avenida Del Cóndor #844, Piso 3, Huechuraba, Santiago 8580704, ChileCenter for Systems Biotechnology, Fraunhofer Chile Research, Avenida Del Cóndor #844, Piso 3, Huechuraba, Santiago 8580704, ChileCenter for Systems Biotechnology, Fraunhofer Chile Research, Avenida Del Cóndor #844, Piso 3, Huechuraba, Santiago 8580704, ChileEscuela Agrotécnica Libertador Gral San Martín, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Bv. Ovidio Lagos 1000, Casilda, Santa Fe S2170, ArgentinaFaculty of Veterinary Sciences, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Bv. Ovidio Lagos 1000, Casilda, Santa Fe S2170, ArgentinaCenter for Systems Biotechnology, Fraunhofer Chile Research, Avenida Del Cóndor #844, Piso 3, Huechuraba, Santiago 8580704, ChileManaged honeybees play an important role as pollinators. The health and nutritional condition of honeybee colonies (<i>Apis mellifera</i> L.) depends for an important part on management practices, and it is influenced by multiple factors. This study aims to identify the stressors that lead to the loss of honeybee health and its consequences on the colony’s productivity. Different aspects related to management practices, productivity, clinical observations related to diseases, presence of sanitary gaps in the apiaries, colony strength, weather and infestation rates by <i>Varroa</i> sp. mites were measured. The information was collected during two monitoring in 53 apiaries in the Province of Santa Fe, Argentina. The results show correlations among many of the management practices, health condition and yield. The most important factors affecting the productivity of the studied honeybee colonies were nuclei preparation, the number of combs in the brood chamber, change of bee queen, disinfection of beekeeping material, among other less significant ones. Although honey production is important in the region, the colony strength was deficient and inadequate during both monitoring. Due to its dependence on management by the beekeeper, it is suggested that a holistic approach could improve bee health, increasing the productivity of honeybees.https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/8/5/76<i>Apis mellifera</i>bee healthbeekeepinghoney yieldhoneybeebee productivity |
| spellingShingle | Verónica Rachel Olate-Olave Mayda Verde Leslie Vallejos Leonel Perez Raymonda Maria Carla Cortese Marnix Doorn Bee Health and Productivity in <i>Apis mellifera,</i> a Consequence of Multiple Factors Veterinary Sciences <i>Apis mellifera</i> bee health beekeeping honey yield honeybee bee productivity |
| title | Bee Health and Productivity in <i>Apis mellifera,</i> a Consequence of Multiple Factors |
| title_full | Bee Health and Productivity in <i>Apis mellifera,</i> a Consequence of Multiple Factors |
| title_fullStr | Bee Health and Productivity in <i>Apis mellifera,</i> a Consequence of Multiple Factors |
| title_full_unstemmed | Bee Health and Productivity in <i>Apis mellifera,</i> a Consequence of Multiple Factors |
| title_short | Bee Health and Productivity in <i>Apis mellifera,</i> a Consequence of Multiple Factors |
| title_sort | bee health and productivity in i apis mellifera i a consequence of multiple factors |
| topic | <i>Apis mellifera</i> bee health beekeeping honey yield honeybee bee productivity |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/8/5/76 |
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